Apple products are built to boost your productivity and efficiency, making them an ideal company for students. However, the hefty price tag may be too steep for most students to afford.
Fortunately, Apple has made some of its products more affordable for those in the education sector through its Education Store. So, if you’re planning to get a new Mac or iPad to help you with schoolwork, here’s everything you need to know about the Apple Student Discount.
Note: The Back to School Promo offers different freebies depending on which country you’re getting the device from. In certain countries like India, Singapore, and the Philippines, students get a pair of AirPods (2nd generation). Meanwhile, US students get up to $150 Apple Gift Card.
- Who qualifies for an Apple Education pricing or Apple student discount?
- What devices can you get with an Apple student discount?
- Can you claim free AirPods on purchasing an eligible product?
- What can the special Apple Education pricing offer?
- How many products can you purchase with the Apple student discount?
- How to get an Apple student discount
Who qualifies for an Apple Education pricing or Apple student discount?
Not everyone is eligible for an Apple Student discount. While it is not spelled out on their website, it is laid out in detail in their terms and conditions.
The following individuals are eligible for Apple’s education pricing:
- students attending or accepted into a higher education institution
- parents of students in higher education
- faculty, staff, homeschool teachers, school board members, and executives of any grade level
You may be asked for proof, like valid documentation, receipt, or your or your child’s school ID, to prove that you qualify for the student discount.
Those who do not qualify, like teens and younger children attending school, may still get a discount by asking the school to make the purchase. If you aren’t eligible but still want to get an Apple product at a lower price, you may want to try Apple’s refurbished store. There are several other places to buy refurbished Macs.
What devices can you get with an Apple student discount?
Apple doesn’t offer a set, universal discount on all its products. Instead, it sets a discounted price for each product range. The Apple Education pricing discount only applies to iPads and Macs (iMac, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini).
Apple also offers an Apple Music Student Plan and Pro Apps bundle for education, containing a collection of powerful tools, including Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro.
Can you claim free AirPods on purchasing an eligible product?
Many people who have recently purchased an eligible product (like an M2 MacBook Air) under an Apple discount ask whether they can claim a free pair of AirPods.
You may still be eligible for free AirPods under the Higher Education Promo 2022 even if you purchased them a little earlier than the promo date. You may contact Apple Support. Alternatively, you can do the following step on your Apple Support app:
- Open your Apple Support app.
- Scroll down and select Billing & Subscriptions under More Products.
- Tap Subscriptions & Purchases → Questions about Apple trial or promotion.
- Select Chat or Call.
Note: If you choose the latter, you’ll be asked for your mobile number and preferred Date & Time. Either way, mention that you’ve recently purchased an eligible product under the Apple Education discount and request if it’s possible to claim the free AirPods.
What can the special Apple Education pricing offer?
If you plan to use the Apple student discount, you’ll get a more significant discount on computers, notebooks, and monitors than iPads. However, you may opt for an iPad if you want something lighter and more portable.
To help you compare the price difference and which device you can save the most from, I’ve listed all the products under Apple Education Discount, their rates, and their discounted prices:
- MacBook Air with M1 chip: from $999 to $899
- MacBook Air with M2 chip: from $1,199 to $1099
- MacBook Pro 14”: from $1999 to $1,849
- iMac: from $1299 to $1249
- Mac mini: from $699 to $649
- Mac Studio: $1,999 to $1,799
- Studio Display: $1,599 to $1,499
- Prop Display XDR: $4,999 to $4,599
- Mac Pro: from $5,999 to $5,599
- iPad Pro: from $799 to $749
- iPad Air: from $599 to $549
- iPad: from $329 to $309
- iPad mini: from $499 to $449
How many products can you purchase with the Apple student discount?
A $50 to $100 Apple discount for students is no small thing. That said, you may want to use an Apple student discount to buy several items. The question is, is there a limit to the number of devices you can buy with the discount? Yes, there is.
If you’re eligible to purchase from the Apple Store for Education, you are allowed to buy the items mentioned above in the following quantities per year:
- 1 desktop
- 1 Mac Mini
- 1 notebook
- 2 iPads
- 2 accessories
These purchases include those bought in a retail store, online, or through an Authorized Campus Reseller.
How to get an Apple student discount
Different countries have different sets of steps to go through. I’ll list down the process for students in the US.
Generally, if you’re a US student, claiming an Apple student discount on the Apple Store for Education is easy peasy. What’s more? There’s a loophole that may make it possible to get your device without needing documentation or any proof.
I recently purchased a MacBook Air M2 Chip from the Apple Education Store for my younger brother. Based on my experience, the site did not require documents or proof.
Just go to the site and choose the device you want to buy. You may be asked to log in with your Apple ID for a more straightforward process. You may purchase one as a guest if you don’t have one. Select the specs you want for your device and fill in your delivery details before proceeding to checkout.
Before checking out, you’ll be asked to review your item/s. You’ll need to tick a box verifying that you belong to the group eligible to get Apple’s Education pricing discount. However, there was no other step to verify further if you are indeed qualified.
Despite this, it’s best to be ready with your supporting documents or IDs just in case. I pre-ordered the Mac two days ago. I’ll let you guys know if they reach out and ask for verification.
FAQs
Apple’s most recent Back to School/University or Higher Education Offer 2022 offers an Apple gift card for US students instead of a pair of AirPods when a person purchases an eligible product. The promo begins from June 24 to September 26, 2022. Each eligible product comes with a corresponding Apple gift card. For example, if you purchase a MacBook Air, iMac, or MacBook Pro, you’ll get a $150 gift. Meanwhile, you’ll get up to a $150 gift card if you get an iPad Air (5th generation) or an iPad Pro. In other eligible countries, like India, Apple offers a free pair of AirPods on purchasing any eligible product.
Apple usually holds regular back-to-school promotions yearly. It usually gives a free product, like a pair of AirPods or an Apple gift card on purchasing an eligible product. This is offered on top of the Apple Education discount.
Apple’s Back to School deal typically lasts about two months. Its 2022 promotion is live now (in the US) and extends from June 24 to September 26, 2022. However, the promo period varies from one eligible country to another.
Wrapping up…
If you’re a student, getting a powerful device that’s compatible and capable of running the most sophisticated software may help give you an edge.
If the steep price discourages you from getting a Mac or an iPad, an Apple Education discount may help slash off a significant amount from the price tag, making the price a little more student-friendly. Which devices are you planning to buy? Share in the comments below.
Read more:
- Best laptops for college students
- Best note-taking apps for Mac
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